Famous Prison Camp at Eglin Slated to Close

If approved by Congress, the Eglin Federal Prison Camp will be shut down as part of a cost cutting plan.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons says it can save $36 million annually by closing Eglin’s Prison Camp and three others.

There's been concern about the future of the minimum security prison since its inmate population was radically cut after it had to be evacuated for Hurricane Ivan. There are about 220 prisoners there now, compared to the more than 750 before Ivan.

The Bureau says the inmates were not returned because of extensive storm damage, a claim disputed by the prison guards' union chief. The 125 prison workers at Eglin will be offered other jobs in the prison system.

The prison opened in 1962. It had a country club reputation and housed some famous inmates, including some of the Watergate defendants.

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